Ps thanks for the nudge, SubC. I will work on cabinet tomorrow Sunday. I'll need to be badgered, Tillie.

Hello everyone!

Safe travels, SubC. Gentle is best. I struggle with my mom. I've told this story before but it's worth retelling so we can have a laugh. I was trying to get my mom to agree to put some hideous little thing into the donation bag and she said, no, that's important to me! This item was clearly not handmade and I saw the Made in China tag and so I asked her about her friend in China. We had a giant laugh. I did at one point succeed in getting her books whittled down considerably. Tillie may remember this project. She only had one chair to sit on at her table and she was jammed up against a bookshelf that was crammed full of books, papers, and junk. She barely had any room to sit at her chair. And it wasn't easy but I got those things pared down.

The muscles I've built up here have been serving me well. Of course, it is so much easier to get rid of other people's stuff!

CM it's a shame your quilt group doesn't understand the struggle. We all struggle so much. And you are such a good person. Kind, thoughtful, caring, friend to all creatures. Just keep being you. You are great. I'm excited about the bunraiser! Yup, I just coined the cutest term ever. Bunraiser. You're welcome.

Tillie! I went out for dinner with a few friends from work last night. Afterward he hung out with BF. Today I did nothing. BF and I had an art reception and lecture to go to this afternoon and it was lovely and invigorating. I just finished going through sibling's mail and shredding it. I have neither seen nor spoken to him but I'd heard that his SS disability had been severely curtailed so I've just finished going through his mail. He'd left me a note asking me if I would just get him through it. So I've figured it out and I will cut through the red tape on Monday. I still won't see or speak to him but I don't mind doing this. BF supports me in getting this together for him. I got his opinion first.

I am doing my sheets right now. I don't think anyone is here.

SubC I appreciate the idea of leaving the drapes open til the workers arrive but the scaffolding is right there at my windows. Im not sure I'll be able to sleep. It is eerie and I m not sure, with the building wrapped, how much sun could even shine through. That said, i am going to pay attn to what time they arrive in the AM to see if it's a possibility but it's super creepy. I had a girlfriend check it out for me after dinner last night and she too felt it was just too creepy. But I'll keep an open mind and see if I can't get a glimmer of sunshine in!

Ok going to put clean sheets on the bed, brew some iced tea for the AM and clean up the kitchen. I'm he texted the cleaners to come on Monday. Haven't had a response yet.

Good Saturday afternoon 🙂

Been just hanging out inside the house today.
The smoke is medium thick, hazy today.
Makes me cough a lot.
Around 100 degrees and kinda sorta muggy.
Watching Netflix and playing with my stuff.
Went grocery shopping last evening.
Got another watermelon.
Have been doing very well with my avoiding processed sugar challenge.
But I did have a packet of Pop Rocks in the pantry that I allowed myself to have after lunch today.
My dog really loved when I would put Pop Rocks in her mouth, would beg for them.
She liked the popping. ;D
One weird thing I have noticed during this no processed sugar diet is that now I am getting cravings for meat, which is so not like me at all.
Been really craving hamburgers so I bought ground chuck, sweet onion and tomatoes.
Will cook that up tomorrow. ;P

Well, have a nice safe trip.
We will be right here if you need a (((HUG))) or just need to vent.
🙂

I will be able to post, but not very much.

Almost ready to go - everything else has to be done in the morning.

Hi CriticalMass 🙂
I hope after this round of medicine you all are healthy and well for a long, long time.

You can do this find raiser event. I believe in you.
Just keep telling yourself that it's for the bunnies. (((HUGS)))

You have had so many other things demanding your attention.
The quilt will patiently wait until you have some free time.

I know personally how frustrating and impossible it can be trying to explain things to people who "just don't get it".
Here, we ALL get it. ((((HUGS))))

Hey Subclinical
Will you be able to post here while you are at your Folk's?

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
How you doin?

Well Tatoulia 🙂
Do we have a firm cabinet date? 😉

Planning to run into town this evening after it starts to cool off and get groceries.
Really do NOT want to go but really want some food.
So, I'm going to go and get it over with.

Yes! Trying to explain! And it's just so hard. People don't get it. Because, they think "how hard is it? Just clean your house. Just get rid of the stuff you don't need." And then you're at "but I need it all." And there is simply nowhere to go.

I am going to be patient with my mom. I am at least a fourth generation hoarder. I think I only passed it to one of my kids, and she (the kid) already has more coping skills than I do.

I hope the bunny fundraiser goes great! Thank you for the resource.

The quilt will be done when it is done. No pressure.

Oh, but I just remembered - tiny pressure for Tatoulia - have you thought about the next cabinet attack yet?

Touching base briefly

We have 3 days or 6 doses of kitty meds to go. Or maybe as of this morning it's 2-1/2 days and 5 doses - I am pretty sure Tuesday is the magic day when we no longer will have to divide the house and sequester the cats.

Bunnies - the best information place is the House Rabbit Society at www.rabbit.org - it started in the 80s and led the way for rabbits becoming viewed more and more as pets in the ways dogs and cats are.

I'm tired, it's in the 90s but sticky and I need to be getting more sleep. It seems that all the medical treatments, first for my roommate's jawbone infection the early part of the summer, and now for the cats, got us off schedule in the evenings and resulted in late nights. I'm a night owl by nature, though, so I can't say I'd always do a whole lot better if I lived by myself.

She has had a bit of unexpected work furlough this week but hopes to be back regular full weeks next week. We're getting ready for the bunny club's big fundraiser Sunday the 19th. This is more than we've had other years, since we're now a real nonprofit and going after larger donations to start a shelter.

There's a lot to do, and being an introvert I'm not one going out to solicit donations and such. But I'll do my behind the scenes stuff and try to do my best at the actual event where there will be people and hustle bustle. There'll also be bunnies, so if it gets stressy I can pet them to relax my nerves! I will bear in mind that the more people, hopefully the more money!

Decided to wait till after the event to go finish my quilt binding at church. I was letting the comments from the other ladies yank my chain. They really meant no harm, but I'm sure you'll all understand that those of us fighting the hoarding beast, lack of space to work on projects at home, and the exhaustion and confusion are not in the same boat as those with nice neat homes, sewing rooms, decent incomes, etc. The worst is when I find myself starting to try and explain why I struggle - bad idea. No one gets it, I end up feeling stupid and ashamed, and wishing I'd just kept my big mouth shut.

However, I'm going to get it done soon, and then I will feel really good and we can all celebrate!

Yup.

It was hot.
She got off balance/dizzy (she was holding a box) and took a step.
She couldn't see the floor because she was holding a box and she stepped right through the ceiling drywall.

I have a new approach. I am going to ask her "so mom, what is so important up in that attic that it's worth me falling through the ceiling?"

I will get there pretty late tomorrow night. My son and his wife are flying in on the evening flight (my parents live in a medium sized town with a little airport) so we will all just relax, talk a little, and go to bed.

Then Sunday and Monday we are all there and if she will let me ask my son to help we can have the attic empty in an hour. Figuring out what to do with everything will take longer....
But Tuesday morning we take my son and fill to dh uncles house and then it's just me and mom (and dad) until Wednesday morning when I head home.

So two days to convince her and to pack up anything she is sending with me from in the house, Monday evening to empty, and Tuesday to redistribute.

OH! CRIPES!
She went through the ceiling dry wall! :O

YEA!!! for some things being able to be delivered to your Son next week! 😀

I have the same fight here with Steven about him packing the garage loft full of cardboard boxes.
Tell your Mom that should (heaven forbid) a fire start in the house,
the flames will quickly travel upwards and all that cardboard will fuel the flames so much so that the fire department would never be able to save the house.

Promise her that if she ever does need a bunch of cardboard boxes you would be happy to go fetch them for her.

How long are you planning to be there?
Our fingers are all crossed in the hopes she will allow you to do these things for her.
((((HUGS))))

Half of what is in Mom's attic is empty cardboard boxes. I wish she would let me toss those in the recycling.

I can't drive a trailer, and I don't think she will part with a lot of the not-cardboard stuff, but I bet if we filled my car completely, we could find space for her to keep everything she actually cares about. she says "I don't want my house to look junky." And then I say "I don't want you to fall through the ceiling again." (The first time was about 5 years ago. She lost her balance, her leg went through the drywall, and she was stuck for an hour before my dad came home. It could have been so much worse...)

Then I say "I can think of lots of ways to make the house not look junky. How do you suggest we keep you from falling?" And she says "I will be careful." And I say "I will close my eyes when I walk through the house." And she gets annoyed...

Oooh! Dd1 just told me she is going to visit her brother next week! That means anything he wants only has to stop here for a few days!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂

Have a wonderful and safe trip! 😀
How lovely that you have the freedom to skinny dip in your own pond.

Your life is at such a turning point.
Helping your Mom declutter her attic and helping your children with their stuff as they begin to build their own homes.
Would you need to rent a trailer to bring home a lot if she is willing to purge?
Great that you are willing to take anything to rehome, just to help her.

You have been doing such a fantastic job clearing out and organizing spaces in your own home.
Please don't get discouraged if some of those spaces are now filling up more with stuff you're storing for the kids.

My fingers are crossed that your Mother will allow you to clear out her attic to make her home a safer place for her to live.
((((HUGS))))

Tatoulia, I don't understand why you have to keep your drapes closed - do they start working before you get up? Can't you open them once you are dressed?

I don't have curtains. But effectively, I also don't have neighbors. I swim naked in my pond. I guess if people want to use google earth to look at pictures of a naked old lady, I don't care.

Today is "getting ready to go visit my parents" day. I will be driving all day tomorrow. It's an 11 hour trip.

While I am there I am going to try (again. 4th try) to clean out my mom's attic. It is not safe for her to go into that attic! I really wish she would not store things there. She is already listing the things she is going to give me. Mostly I will want them, but not now. Or I don't know if I want them, so will take them to avoid deciding now. She also wants me to take things for my kids, which I will end up storing for a while (my son flies when he visits her, he drives to visit me, i'm about to have musical instruments stored in my house until Christmas....)

I will probably take anything she wants if it will make space that we can fill with stuff from the attic. I am also going to try to help her purge stuff. I am going to offer to take things to the reuse store, because she has a lot of "I don't know what to do with this. It seems like somebody should be able to use it" moments.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂

Hope this link works.
reasons not to make your bed

I wash my sheets once a week or more depending on what the cats get into the bed.
Sometimes they shed a lot or track kitty litter into the bed on their moist gummy little feet.

How depressing not being able to have your drapes open. 🙁
I need the natural light to help wake up my brain.
When the men are not working can you open your windows?

I wonder if your nutritionist has any suggestions for helping to shed the extra salt from your system.
I have found a diet of fruit, raw veggies and water for a few days helps me feel better.
And there are natural diuretics like caffeine and asparagus.

WAY TO GO! for doing a little daily tidying up! 😀

Great work on relaxing today, Tillie. Sorry about the smoke and heat. SubC what wonderful news for your ❤️Daughter!!

I had no idea there was a school of thought regarding airing out the bed!! I make my bed everyday, no matter how late for work I am. I do air out my bedroom frequently. But I had no idea on the rest of it. I change my sheets at least once a week, sometimes twice a week. My thyroid condition occasionally causes excess sweating so I like to change them out mid-week when that occurs. It hasn't happened in a while and tends to come in bunches.

Right now my building is undergoing facade restoration and I cannot have my bedroom windows open. Likewise, I have to keep the drapes closed. It's miserable. I can't waje up in the morning without the sun. Two months is the estimate. While it's still humid I'll try not to complain.

I went to office today, which meant no working on stuff at home. I ended up staying late then BF picked me up and we ran errands.

I just gathered up the trash, swept the living room, shredded my mail and cleaned kitty's box.

I am bloated from all the salt in the restaurant food. I've eatrn out a lot this week. And I feel lousy. For lunch I had a salad with no dressing but I still feel oddly salty.

Off to bed now. Goodnight dear friends.

Hello

Had a very relaxing day.
Did everything I wanted to do. 😀
Temps went up to 105 and the smoke is medium heavy
But we were very comfortable here inside. 😀
Tomorrow is supposed to be the same weather wise.
Saturday's supposed to start being cooler.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
What great news for your heart Daughter! 😀
Have fun today working in the studio.

There is a whole school of thought that we should always leave our beds uncovered so they can air out.

Steven always puts stuff on his unmade bed and never removes it.
Clothes, electronics, papers, food, etc.
And he just sleeps on the edge of the bed.
He also never washes his sheets/pillow cases/blanket because that would involve moving all that stuff.

Stay safe Tillie. There is some awful stuff in that smoke!
I'm glad you're planning to rake care of yourself today.

Tatoulia, you did a lot yesterday! Is today a "day of rest" or do you think you can fit in another swing at the cabinet?

I almost never make my bed. Pretty much only when I change the sheets. I like to let it air out during the day, and if I make it, it becomes another "surface" and I have to unpile it before bedtime.

Today is a working in the studio day for me. I have class tonight and I have fallen behind. I will try to leave it better than it is now.

Unrelated personal share - I got an e-mail from my heart daughter last night and not only did I have a great day with her son - she got the job she was interviewing for! This is fantastic. She will have health care and be able to pay her bills on time every month even if her car needs repairs! Also, I think she is going to love the job and she will be great at it. I am super happy for her.

(((HUGS))) Tatoulia 🙂

They amended the weather prediction from 102 to 105 degrees.

Tomorrow I have planned a fun "ME" day.
The highlight will be giving myself a pedicure.
I will be doing some beading and spending lots of time playing with the doll house.
Planned to cook a delicious meal too!
Won't do any chores, just cat tasks.

I will be alright. 🙂
Going stir crazy being all closed up in the house but California logically can't burn forever.
They will eventually run out of combustible materials. ;P

Tillie I do worry about your health. If there is anything I can ever do for you, I expect you to say the word. Sending you love.

Yes Tatoulia
Soon as you have sorted out everything in that cabinet
ALL the monsters will be gone! ;D

How wonderful it would be to have rain!
Happy Kitty can't hear the thunder.
Sounds like a lovely time sharing company and dinner with that young man. 😉

Since I sleep on the sleeper bed couch in the livingroom I make my bed every single day unless I am just too sick to stand up.
All the cats say I should just leave it out because they all would like to nap on it throughout the day.

Good that you were able to get to see your Mom and BF even with the stormy weather there. 🙂

Watering the grass right now.
Helps cool down the house for the evening having wet grass. ;D

I do remember the feedbags, SubC! Great work!!!
Thank you both for agreeing to nag me on this. I'm almost there but that's not good enough. I need to be finished so we can do second pass on the upper cabinets. I topped my cleaning ladies last time and I will do so too once I show them the cabinet. The cabinet won't seem gross to them because the monsters will be gone. They will be gone, right?!

Tillie my dear. I sit here dying my in the heat and humidity and meanwhile you are dealing with so much more and terrible smoke on top of it.

Right now we are having more lightning and more thunder. The AC is drowning out the thunder so kitty hasn't hidden herself yet. I'm about to do some relaxation exercises.

Ladies I didn't make my bed today. I just made it now. It is rare that I don't make my bed/maybe once a year.

I had fun at dinner tonight. I don't know this man very well but he's a dear heart. Very young/I would guess under 30. We had a nice time at dinner then I went up to see BF then I went to mom's. I had tried to go to mom's earlier today but I could feel the storm coming in.

Howdy Ya'll 😉

YEA!!!! WTG!!!! Tatoulia! 😀
WOW! so it was nothing precious in there.
Sure makes it easy when there are really no decisions to make. ;D
Once it's all empty you could offer a cash incentive to a house cleaner to bleach it for you.
Then all the monsters would be properly banished. 😉
So very happy that the dog did not eat your homework, again.
Have fun at dinner tonight. 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! 😀
No empty feed bags waiting around! 😀
Yes, one step at a time as you tackle spaces and tie up loose ends, do maintenance and have time to spend working on various projects.
In here space is so limited that if I have the sewing machine and/or ironing board out I have to put them away by bedtime to make room to go to bed.

Smoke is slowly getting much thicker, creeping back into the dangerous zone.
No need to go out & not hanging out laundry.
High today just 101 but tomorrow supposed to be 102.
Nice and cool in here and the evaporative cooler is helping filter out the smoke. ;D

Great start Tatoulia!

You are almost there!

Don't worry, we will check back about it.

Only two projects left out is my fantasy goal, but one step at a time...

Today I reached a new milestone - do you guys remember my giant collection of feed bags? Well, as of today, all the feed bags in my barn (and there aren't any stored anywhere else) have feed in them! The empty ones are gone! I did it!

Thanks for the encouragement! Tillie it is pouring here. Big thunder. Big rain. Yet still light out.

I did it! I went in and I cleared another 25%. All stuff I could recycle and already in the bin. Tupperware type stuff and some other stuff. Im so grateful to have it out. I looked over the stuff I kept and I still approve. Just enough baking dishes and bowls. There's still stuff in there that needs a going/over but I got in there and it wasn't terrible. I think I can finish tonight or by the close of the weekend.

I put a dishcloth on my counter as my staging area. But mainly I just used my recycle bag. I didn't see anything to donate. And nothing to put in dishwasher. It was just pulling out papers and recipes and Tupperware, etc. stuff I don't need and won't use. A few bottles that I must've saved due to their being cute.

I also think I can relocate some stuff in there to places where I can actually use it. I'm not going to voluntarily go in there to get needed items but I think I have room in some overhead cabinets. My goal is to have it clear enough that I can have someone actually clean it with bleach. That someone might be me, that someone might be a professional.

I like Tillie's idea of two projects being left out. Would that work for you, SubC?

OK so I got up this morning, logged onto my computer and a business vendor wrote to confirm lunch today! And I said no, it's tomorrow. And I looked back over the emails and I had confirmed Thursday the 8th. So they put on calendar for the 8th and I put on for Thursday. I called them and we are confirmed for tomorrow. They changed the reservation at the restaurant. There was no way I was getting showered and into office today. So that worked out! Twice in one week I was confused. I'll chalk it up to the heat.

I did kitty's laundry.

I'm having dinner with a former colleague tonight. He cracked me up and suggested a "short dinner". So I expect to be done by 7 o'clock.

Can you stay on me to finish the cabinet? Only if it's not too taxing on you. I just need the encouragement and insistence.

Go tatoulia! You can do it!

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Good luck! Tatoulia ;D
Go! Go! Go!
We will send in the hounds if we don't hear from you. 😉

Hi Subclinical 🙂
Great plan to maintain cleared areas by bedtime.
Since your home is bigger than mine, I think a rule of two ongoing projects out would be very do-able. 😉

Fortunately the air has been very still last few days so only moderately smoky.
But temps are back up into three digits.
No humidity or rain clouds. Really wish it would rain.
If it would rain maybe California would quit burning. ;P
No plans for today, just going to hang out. 😀

Going in. Send help if you don't hear from me.

Ok tatoulia, it's go time! Get that cupboard monster! We are pulling for you!

Tillie, the thing about leaving things out is that I have a tendency to leave projects out because I am coming back, and then get distracted and not come back - because I have too many projects. So I am trying to clean up the already cleaned areas by bedtime. At least until I get down to maybe 2 project areas?

Hello 🙂

Hi Subclinical 🙂
WAY TO GO! working on stalls today! 😀
WOOHOO! for laundry & dishes & such!
Stuff like books & projects & etc. sitting out because you are coming back to them happens because you live there, it's life, so it doesn't count as clutter.
Yes, we do need to ask CriticalMass, our Bunny Expert. 😉
But I too think another lettuce tomorrow would be just fine.
Have a wonderful visit tomorrow.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WTG! for getting those tasks done! 😀
I think cake decorating would be a sweet artistic outlet.
Best of luck with that cabinet!

I once had a Guinea pig and he was allowed to eat fresh veggie all the time.
But only if he ate the required amounts of guinea pig pellets daily first.

I know parrots are allowed lots of produce and other treats but only if they eat their parrot biscuit first.

I think once we figure out how much rabbit chow is required to make sure she gets the daily required vitamins then salad will be easier to gauge.

Watered laurels, trees and lilacs today.
Made French toast for brunch.